Hormonal Contraceptive Use, Stress Disorders, and Cardiovascular and Thrombotic Risk in Women

Do associations between combined hormonal contraceptive use and cardiovascular and thrombotic risk differ if women have stress-related psychiatric conditions (depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD])?In this cohort study of 31 824 women, hormonal contraceptive use was associated with lower odds of major adverse cardiovascular events in women irrespective of depression or anxiety history. Contraceptive use was associated with lower cardiovascular risk among women without PTSD, but not women with PTSD.These findings suggest that contraceptive use is associated with cardiovascular health outcomes in women with depression and anxiety, but not PTSD.

Corresponding Author: Antonia V. Seligowski, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 165 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114 (aseligowski@mgh.harvard.edu).

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